Printing-telegraph receiver.



A. F. DIXON.

PRINTING TELEGRAPH RECEIVER.

APPLICATION FILED MARJQ, 1914. v

r 1,128,422. Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

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Amos fi D/Lvon' k by Airy UNITED STATES PATENT or IoE.

AMOS F. DIXON, or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, Assreivoa 'rowEsrEmv ELECTRIC COMPANY, or NEW YoEK, N. Y., A CORPORATION oEILLmoIs.

PRINTING-TELEGRAPH RECEIVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 19, 1914., Serial No. 825,901.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AMos F. DIXON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of .Essex and State of New J ersey,'have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Printing-Telegraph- Receivers,-of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to printingtele graph receivers of the type employing a. rotating current distributer and has for its principal object the production of such a receiver wherein one selection-may be retained while another selection is being prepared. To this end, in combination with a rotating current distributer, electromagnetic devices successively influenced through the agency of the distrubuter and selective apparatus controlled by these devices, are means for so affecting the relations of, these parts that one selection may be retained simultaneously with the formation of another.

i .The above and other objects of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description and. claims, and will be more readily understoodby reference to the accompanying drawing in which the system of connections is shown diagrammatically, so much of the apparatus as is necessary to a complete understanding being shown in perspective.

This system is an improvement on the system disclosed and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 7 95,073, filed October 14, 1913 and is preferably operated by thewell' known Baudot code of various combinations of five positive and negative impulses, although other codes may be emploved without departing from the spirit of this invention. The impulses arrive sequentially, from a distant transmitting station, over the main line L and traverse .a polarized relay 1. Relay 1 is provided with an armature 2 joined to a battery 3 and adapted, let it be assumed, to engage a contact 4 only when positive impulses are received by the polarized relay. Contact 4 is connected to aconducting quadrant 5 of a rotary 'distributer 10. The rotary distributer comprises a rotating arm 11, which is adapted to be rotated in the direction of cessively uniting theconducting quadrant 5 and the conducting segments 15, '16, 17, 18 and 19. After passing the last segment 19, the brushes 12 unite a segment 20 con- .nected to a battery 21 and a sixth segment'22. For the sake of brevity of description and simplification offithe drawing, only one receiving instrument is shown, although each of the=quadrantsmay servea separate instrument, so that more than-one distinct message may be transmitted over a single line conductor at the same time.

The conducting segments 15 to 19 inclusive are connected respectively, to selecting relays 2.5 26, 27, 28 and 29 by means of conductors 35, 36, 37, 38 and 39. .'Each of these selecting relays is provided withtwo armatures, the upper being joined, respectively, to correspondingselecting magnets 45, 46, 47, 48 and 49, while the lower is adapted, when attracted, tocomplete a holding'circuit as'will be presently explained. .The sixth segment is connected by a conductor 50 to the armature of a release control relay 51. An overlap relay 52 is providecl'through whose armature-53 the energizing circuit of the selecting magnets 45 to 49 and the holding circuits 'of the selectingrelays 25 to 29 may be completed. As will be hereinafter explained, this overlap relay 52, by shifting its armature 53, allows the selecting relays25 to 29 to be energized without aifecting the corresponding selecting magnets 45 to 49, so that while the magnets are held in one combination, the

relays may be preparing for the production of a new combination.

The printer proper comprises a type wheel 55, on which the characters appear in a double row, and which is carried bya rotatable shaft 56. The rotation of the shaft 56'may be effected by any desired means as, .for

example, a spring or motor. Arranged con-- Patented; eb. 16, 19115.

ing, etc, to be performed. Each of the vertical lines of-notches, corresponding to a character to be printed is provided with a spring-tensioned type selecting lever 75 which is adapted, under certain conditions.

to be hereinafter explained, to be engaged by a contact or stop arm 7 6 carried by the type shaft 56. The vertical lines of notchesrepresenting other operations than type selection are also provided with springtensioned levers adapted to control circuit connections, whereby electromagnetic devices for performing the desired function are energized, as hereinafter described.

When the armatures of the selecting magnets are attracted, the corresponding selecting disks are rotated, and whenever one or more of the disks are moved so that a. continuous vertical line of notches is presented to one of the type or operation selecting levers, the spring thereof tends to force the centrally projecting end of the corresponding lever upwardlv into a. position to engage the rotating arm 76 or tends'to cause the formation of the proper circuit conditions. The type wheel may thereby be arrested in a position to present any desired character to the printing platen, or the proper electromagnetic device may be set in motion to space, shift the type wheel, reset the paper carriage, feed the paper from line to line, or accomplish anv other operation which it is found desirable for a receiving printer to perform. The type and operation selecting levers are normally held out of engagement with the selecting disks 65 to 69, and, after the completion of acycle of operations, are restored to their normal position by a pair of release levers 85 adapted to be controlled by a pair of release magnets 86 'and springs 87. Normally, the springs 87 cause the circular shaped centrally projecting ends of release levers 85 to depress all of the selecting levers, but when the release magnets 86 are energized, the magneticpull overcomes the spring tension, and the centrally projecting ends of release levers 85 are elevated. This movement releases all of the selecting levers, one only of which. due to its coincidence with a line of notches, may move a sufficient distance to initiate-the performance of the desired function. i

- The rotation of the arm 11 is so timed, by any of the means well known in the art, that when the first impulse of a combination arriving from a distant transmitting station is acting on polarized relay 1, the pair of brushes 12 carried thereby are bridging conducting quadrant 5 and segment 15; when thesecond impulse is on relay 1, the brushes are bridging conductingquadrant 5 and segment 16, and so on for the entire number of impulses for each selection. After the arrival of the fifth impulse, segments 20 and 22 are bridged, whereupon the operation of the printer proper is initiated, as will be hereinafter described.

After the receipt of each of the impulses over the line L, the armature 2 of polarized relay 1 will, depending upon whether or not the impulse is positive, be found in or out of engagement with contact 4, and consequently battery 3 willor will not be connected to the corresponding segment 15 to 19. WVhen the impulses are positive, the current from grounded battery 3 flows through contact 4, arm 11, brushes 12, corresponding segments 15 to 19, corresponding conductors 35 to 39, and corresponding selecting relays 25 to 29, and from thence by a conductor 90, through release control relay 51, conductor 91, contact-92 and contact 93 to ground. The circuits just traced cause the proper selecting relays 25 to 29 to attract both of their armatures. The upper armatures cause the energization of the corresponding selecting magnets 45 to 49 completing the following circuits. grounded batteries 100, selecting magnets 45 to 49, corresponding upper armatures of selecting relays 25 to 29, conductor 101, and back'contact and armature of overlap relay 52 to ground. The lower armatures of the chosen selecting relays 25 to 29 close holding circuits therefor from grounded batteries 105. conductor 90, release control relay 51, conductor 91, contacts 92 and 93 to ground. It is, therefore, readily apparent that whenever one or more positive current impulses are included in the combination of five impulses, the release control relay 51, the proper selecting relays 25 to 29 and their associated selecting magnets 45 to 49 are energized and locked up through the circuits previously traced. The energizing of certain of the selecting magnets 45 to 49 has, through the agency of their armatures and arms 71, produced a slight rotation of the corresponding selecting disks 65 to 69, which brings about the presentation of a continuous row of the notches therein before the selecting lever controlling the desired character or operation.

Let it be assumed. for example, that a combination of impulses has been received which caused a movement of disks 65 to 69 such that a continuous vertical row of notches is presented before a lever representing some character in the upper row on the type wheel. With the apparatus in this condition, the. rotating arm 11 carries the brushes 12 to segments 20 and 22 and a circuit is completed from grounded battery 21, segments 20 and 22, conductor 50, arma= ture and front contact of release control relay 51, release relay 110, conductors 111 and 11.2 to ground through the back contact and armature of clear-out relay 115. Release relay 110 attracts its armature completing a locking circuit for itself and an energizing,

circuit for'the release magnets 86 as follows: ground, armature and back contact of clear-out relay 115, conductors 112 and 111', winding, front contact and armature of release relay 110, conductors 116 and 117, to release magnets 86 and grounded'batteries 118. Thereupon, release'magnets 86 elevate the centrally proiecting ends ofrelease le- 'vers 85 against the tension of springs 87,

whereupon the type selecting, lever 75, before which 'acontinuous vertical line of notches is presented, ra'ises'its innerend into a position to engage the arm 76 carried bV thetype shaft. The movement of one of the release levers 85 also causes the-disengagement of contacts 92 and 93 .and the engagement of contact 93- and a contact 125.

It also causes the engagement of contacts 126 and 127' The disengagement of contaos 92 and 93 opens the previously traced hold ng circuits for the operated selecting relays 25 to 29 and, consequently, alsothat of the corresponding selectingmagnets 45 to 49. The engagement of contacts 93'and 125 closes an energizing circuit for the overlap relay 52, from grounded battery 130. through conductor 131 and contacts 125 and '93 to ground, Overlap relay. 52ithereupon mo es its armature 53 from the back to the front contact. The armatures' 7 of the operated selecting magnets and 'the' rotated disks 65 to 69 cannot, at this time. return to normal. because of the selected and now i elevated le er 75 being interposed in the no ches of the d sks to hold them in their off-normal position. The armatures' of the operated selecting relays to 29, may, howe er, return to normal and consequently can be again selectivelvenergized through theinstrumentality of impulses from line Lacting upon-relay 1. The circuits for causing such energization does not. as'in the fi st instance. pass through contacts 92 and 93,

3 s nce they are separated, but obtain ground connections through the front contact and armature 53 of the overlap relay 52..

Neither can this subseouent operation of certain of theselecting relays 25 to 29 disturb, 1n

) any way, the previous setting of magnets to 49 and disks to 69, because the energizing circuits for the selecting magnets which pass through the upper armatures of the selecting relays are open at the back contact of the overlap relay 52. When,

however, after the completion of the printing, the overlap relay 52 is denergized, as hereinafter described, the circuits for such of the selecting magnets 45 to 49 as have 0 been prepared by their relays 25 to 29 will be completed at the back contact of overlap relay 52 and the corresponding disks 65 to 69 will be rotated. From this explanation it will be readily apparent that a certain op- 5 erative arrangement of the selecting disks 65 to '69 maybe retainedwhile theselecting relay 133 drawsupits armature and com pletesa circuit for the 'startermagnet' 135 from grounded armature and back contact i of clear-out relay 115,'conductors 112 and 140, front contact-rand armature of *start control relay 133, starter'ma'gnet 135,-conductor 141, fixed contact 142- and movable 7 contact 1'43" to' grounded battery 145.

Starter magnet 135 becomes energized-and actuates a stop (not shown) to allow shaft 56 to rotate.v Shaft 56 rotates, in the direotion of thearrow, until stop "7 6"engages the elevated inner end of the selected lever 75, whereupon it is arrested with the desired lever .75 alsocompletes a circuit from grounded battery 150, clear-out relay'115,

conductors "151 and 152, operating winding of space-lock relay 153, pr'in ting magnet l55,'arm 76 andlever "to ground." Print- 5 character on 'the'type wheel 55 in position v to be impressed upon thepaper by the print-1 ing platen, The engagement of arm 76 and ing magnet 155, space-lock relay'15'3 and clear-out relay 115 are energized; Printingmagnet 155, by means'of a platen (not shown), presses the paper against type wheel 55 and the selected character is printed. Space-lock relay 153 pulls up both its armatures, completing a holding circuit spacer magnet 156. Spacermagnet 156 acfor itself and an energizing circuit for the tuates mechanism (not shown) forcmoving the paper to present a cle'ansurface to the type wheel; It also causes the separation of contacts '157-wh'ich causes the .opening of the circuit through the holding winding of the space-lock relay 153. Clear-out relay 115 in attracting its armature, opens the previously traced circuits for the {starter magnet135, release relay 'llO and release .magnets 86. Release levers 85 are depressed I by springs 87 whereupon 'all of the selecting I levers including the one engaged by arm 76 are lowered and the circuit through the printing magnet 155,.space-lock relay 153 and clear-out relay115 is interrupted. Contacts 126 and 127 are separated, opening the circuit for the start control relay 133. Contact 93 is again engaged by contact 92 and then separated from contact .125 which causes the opening of, the circuit for the overlap relay 52 and the reestablishment of the first traced energizing circuits for the 1 selecting relays 25 to 29. The deenergization of overlap relay 52 opens-the secondary circuits for selecting relays 25. to 29 and re'stablishes the ground connection for energizing circuits for selecting magnets 45 to 49. One character has now been printed,

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5 cause the actuation of such selecting relays,

magnets and disks thata continuous row of notches is presented to the selecting lever controlling spacing contacts 160. This causes the energization of the space-lock .10 and clear-out relays, the former effecting the spacing operation and the latter the returning of all the apparatus to normal as hereinbefore described. The feeding-of the paper from line to line is produced by the selection and transfer of feed contact 143 from contact 142 to contact 161. Such transfer opens the circuit of the start magnet 135 to insure the non-rotation of the type wheel and causes the energization of feed magnet 162. 7 Feed magnet 162 causes the operation to return to normal. The type wheel, as before stated, containstwo horizontal rows of characters, the upper of which is normally in printing position. In order, therefore, to print a character from the'bottom row, it

- is necessary to shift or elevate the type wheel. This is accomplished by a combination of impulses which will produce the engagement of shift contacts 164.. The engagement of these contacts causes the energization of a shifting magnet 165 by a circuit which includes the normally closed unshift contacts 166 and 167 and clear-out relay 115, whereupon mechanism (not shown) shifts the type wheel and the selecting appa- 40 ratus is returned to normal. It will be noted that the shift magnet in attracting its armature prepares a holding circuit for itself from grounded battery 170, through the unshift contacts 166 and 167. After once being shifted, therefore: characters will be selected from the bottom row untilimpulses are received to open unshift contacts 166 and 167. This opens the holding circuit for shift magnet 165 and the engagement of contact 167 2 and 171 operates the clear-out relay Carriage contacts 172 when selected and op erated, cause the energization of carriagi return magnet 178, which by means 0: mechanism (not shown) effects the return 0: the paper carriage to the beginning of 2 line of print. This magnet also complete: a holding circuit for itself through its arma ture, whichcircuit is broken at contacts 174 when the carriage has completed its returr travel. In the spacing, feeding, etc., opera- ":tions, precisely as in the selecting and print ing of a character, one selection may be retained while the preliminary selecting oi he subsequent operation or character is taking place.

What is claimed is:

1. In a printing telegraph receiver the combination of a rotary current distributer. selecting relays controlled thereby, selecting magnets controlled by said relays energizing and holding circuits for said relays and magnets, and means for altering the conditions of saidenergizingand holding circuits, whereby said relays may be selected without affecting said magnets.

2. A printing telegraph receivercomprising a plurality of members from which one is to be selected, a plurality of mechanical selectors for completing such selection, a plurality of magnets controlling said selectors, selecting relays for causing the actuation of said magnets, a rotary current distributer, actuating circuits for said relays and said magnets, release means cooperating with said'distributer to allow the operation of said selected member, overlap means controlled by said release means to alter said actuating circuits, and means cooperating with said member to cause said overlap means to restore normal circuit conditions.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 17th day of March A. D, 1914.

AMOS ninrxon.

Witnesses:

E. EDLER, -NANsA E. TUTHILL. 

